OWAIN GLYNDWR COMMUNICATES

Promoting an interest in the history of Owain Glyndwr, the Welsh Son of Prophecy, his life, times and society and his great Welsh War of Independence;also promoting causes today in Glyndwr's spirit and promoting the flying of the Glyndwr flag on Sept 16 Glyndwr Day.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Glyndwr's Dream - Is It Dead?

'Glyndwr's Dream'.

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Is still strong, at the below:

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Welsh Independence - 08:46It is also an intriguing analysis of the ‘inevitability’ of Welsh independence, as a broader debate on devolved national institutions – specifically, ...independent-wales.blogspot.com/ - 88k - Cached - Similar pages

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Also at:

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THE WELSH PATRIOT.Most Welsh Patriots consider that the Welsh gave up the struggle against the English Crown at advent of the Tudors, but from the moment of their “Crowning ...welshpatriot.blogspot.com/ - 110k - Cached - Similar pages

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BUT NOT AT THE WESTERN MAIL, See Below:

When will it ever be time? - unless we make the time!

That, is up to all you patriots out there and to 'PoblGlyndŵr' in particular. What are you going to do about it? I think it is time for some 'Hanes Glyndwr', to remind you of what it really means tobe'Juratus Oweyn'.

16 Medi 1400, at Glyndyfrdwy, the Struggle for Independence is declared and on the 18 Medi 1400, a small 'Byddin Cymru' gathers at Caerdrewyn and sets out to attack the English Garrison town of Ruthun and so begins The last Great War of Welsh Independence.

.............................................By 1401Glyndŵr defeats an Anglo - Flemish army at the Battle of Hyddgen.......

.....and at the end of this year, on the 2 Tachwedd 1404, he appears upon Twtil, Caernarfon and raises up 'Baner y Ddraig Aur' his 'battle flag' and throws down a guantlet to English Rule in Cymru...............

....................I wonder if the patriots of today are ready to throw down the guantlet to English Rule of Wales?

..................................................................................................But on with the history! In 1402, following on the great Victory at the 'Battle of Bryn Glas'22 Mehefin 1402, Owain Glyndŵr leads the Cymry onward to fulfil the great dream of INDEPENDENCE.

In 1403, the Cymry of Cydweli rise up and besiege the Castle. Likewise in Ystrad Tywi, 'Y Cymry' rise up and beseige the Castles there. Owain Glyndwr leads a great Army of National Liberation into Llandovery on 1 July 1403 and by the 6th July 1403, the Castle of Carmarthen surrenders, without a fight, and the Castle's keys are handed to Glyndŵr.....

But does Glyndŵr and his followers stop there? NO! By the end of the year the great Castles of Aberystwyth and Harlech are put to seige.....

..By virtue of great conviction and great courage, the greatest gathering in our Nation's history takes place at Machynlleth by Mid Summer of 1404 to establish there a 'SENEDD GLYNDŴR' and on 21 Mehefin 1404, this 'Senedd' proclaims and crowns Owain Glyndŵr 'Tywysog Cymru'.

Your Hanes Glyndŵr -

ENDS HERE?

Some 600 years following on the above:

The Western Mail of course means'INDEPENDENCE' but is this the truth, have today's Welsh Patriots given up on'Glyndŵr's Dream?'HAVE YOU? or are you going to continue that struggle began on 16 Medi 1400, and which achieved success on 21 Mehefin 1404. However, a success that did not last. In the years that followed, the English launched a renewed great military offensive and one of "Glyndŵr's Bastions'', Castell Aberystwyth, fell into English hands in 1408, whilst the other, Castell Harlech, fell in 1409. In the year of 1415, Owain Glyndŵr became weary of struggle and ''disappears?'', but his son, Maredudd, continues the struggle until April 21, 1421. He then surrenders but the''Gwerin Owain - Partisan Outlaws''continue the struggle for many more years in the wild woods of Wales. However. Welsh Independence is lost and our 'SENEDD GLYNDŴR' no more.There are those who say such will never be restored, and those who say, it is but a dream, it seems, according to the Western Mail, it will remain a dream. Unless you, continue to march with our past, present and future 'Tywysog Cymru', and of course are prepared for an untiring patriotic struggle believing in ultimate victory.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Defending Heritage in the Landscape.

Defending Heritage in the Landscape.

Tarian Glyndwr Campaign Continues.

'Don't Let Turbines replace Slag Heaps''

Before reading this posting please note that I have not informed much on reasons for our 'Tarian Glyndwr' outing in support of 'SWATT' as they do that much better than I could on their own website which I urge you to visit and do remember to sign their 'on line' petition at www.SWATT.co.uk and remember the call is ''PLANT TREES NOT TURBINES''.

Sunday 21 January 2007: 'South Wales Alternative To Turbines' (SWATT) organised a protest walk against the ''Windmilling of Blaenau Morgannwg'', walking from Blackmill three miles up to top of 'Mynydd y Gaer'. The protest was against plans to blight the Bridgend and RCT area with huge windmill turbines and thus Embassy Glyndwr sent two of it's staff along to support the protest and once atop 'Mynydd y Gaer' declared the whole of the aforementioned areas hence 'TARIAN GLYNDWR DEFENDED AREAS'. This means all pobl Glyndwr are expected to rise to occaision of any call to support local community protest against any destruction of our Heritage in the Landscape, that includes the environment in general and certainly that which vandalise the heritage within that landscape. In this case the whole of the 'Blaenau Morgannwg' landscape is such that is full of a long history and part of our heritage that is important to us as many other areas of our homeland. Not least regards the history of Owain Glyndwr, as the mountain of 'Mynydd y Gaer' is an important interface demarkation ''Frontier'' between what became the 'Anglo - Norman' occupied ''Englishries'' to the South in what later becomes ''Bro Morgannwg'' whilst to the North lays the ''Welshries'' of ''Blaenau Morgannwg''. All this history that devided Morgannwg between ''Native'' and ''Settler'' occured many centuries before Owain Glyndwr beginning with the conquest and colonisation of much of Southern, Eastern and Western ''Marcher Wallia'' in the 11th and 12th centuries. It is often thought that the ''Hwntws'' rolled over and surrendered to the Normans and there after were domiciled to rule of the conquoror but that is not quite the truth, for the ''medieval Southerners'' were equal to sustainging long resistance to conquest as were their 'Silurian' ancestors against the Romans. Further, let us not forget that as often as not Y Blaenau Morgannwg' would often rise up in support of Gwynedd and pura Wallia aka ''Native Free Wales'' and it's princes such as Llywelyn Fawr and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. We should neither forget that the 'Blaenau Morgannwg' rose up in rebellion along side Llywelyn Bren in 1316, the last 'major full scale ''Welsh Revolt'' prior to that of Owain Glyndwr not destined to ''Kick off'' untill 16 Medi 1400. So now to some real 'Hanes Glyndwr' in 'Mynydd y Gaer' and 'Blaenau Diroedd' connection.

Pics: Final stage up hill, it's a gradual long hike up hill,throught the forest and up a final hilly bit and then your atop 'Mynydd y Gaer' with fantastic views all around, includuding those windmills, one can even see from the M4. To the left s Gilfach Goch. Final pic is of me holding on to the 'trig' for dear life as the wind threatens to take me with the flag 'hang gliding', yes sure was 'windy' but lucky for us, as South of us we could see the rain 'emptying on Bridgend'. To all other compass points it was sunny, very good for a 'winters day'. If you would like to do this ''must walk for all patriots'' (especially Southerners) then do it in July. I will publish rough guide below but also do consult relevant O/S map. Not least good walking boots are required ok!

Pic: No it's not Clint Eastwood, it's Harry from Gilfach Goch (That's where my Dad was born and bred), so yes! the answer is you can ride an horse up to the top of 'Mynydd y Gaer' which I suppose beats walking?

Owain Glyndwr came into 'Y Blaenau Morgannwg' at least once as far as we know, that was in 1402 following on the 'Battle of Bryn Glas'22 Mehefin 1402, the victorious Welsh made a ''Great Raid'' along the border, into Monmouthshire and then on into 'Vale of Glamorgan'. There they realised now with a grown army of liberated serfs and other campfollowers that would add to the ranks of the ''Barefoot Welsh Doggis'', weighed down by ''pillage and booty'' as food and arms there was now a problem. Now no longer the speedy raiding force they had become a ''lumbering army'' and worse on all sides were enemy castles, which way could they turn. Obviously there was only one way to go to secure safty and that was northward into 'Y Blaenau Morgannwg' but to the North of them were the castles of Caerffili, Llantrisant and Coity. Some records suggest that Castell Llantrisant had already been attacked by the Welsh of 'Y Blaenau Morgannwg' and vacated by the English. If this was true then the best way to safty was into 'Y Rhondda' and safty of Penrhys via this gap in the Enemy defences. However, there was another alternative via Pencoed perhaps (keeping in mind that Pencoed does have a 'Ogof Glyndwr' folk tale) and then head up toward 'Mynydd y Gaer' also keeping in mind that the Welsh of Ogwr were strongly with Owain Glyndwr. Of course positioning at 'Mynydd y Gaer' would offer good ''lookout'' potential and defensive position if needs be. what and where ever exactly, I am pretty convinced that Glyndwr is in this area during the summer of 1402 and it is possibly at this time he makes the famous call to the local lord of 'Y Rhondda ''Cadwgan Whet Thy battle Axe''.

Turning to 1403 and the campaigning of what we referr to has ''Haf Glyndwr'' following on the major success of the campaign in Ystrad Tywi and capture of the last remaining 'English Royal Castle' in Wales at Carmarthen, Glyndwr is thought to have returned North to rally Fflintshire following defeat of his English allies at the 'Battle of Shrewsbury'. However, Glyndwr's famous general Rhys Gethin began to move east toward Morgannwg with a great Army, it his thought that both Swansea and Neath Castles surrendered to the Welsh with out any attempt to put up a fight. This is all the prologue to the great Welsh Victory at the 'Battle of Stalling Down' during July 1403, history records that the remains of the ancient Celtic fortress, thought to have been used by both Caradog and King Arthur south of 'Mynydd y Gaer' was also used by Glyndwr's forces. Now it is far from proven that the ''Grand Armee'' of Rhys Gethin met with the ''Warriors of the Rhondda'' led by Cadwgan at this aforementioned fortress prior to 'Battle of Stalling Down' but it may have been possible. However, it was quite probable that Cadwgan and the ''Warriors of Y Rhondda'' met here with other ''Warriors of Y Blaenau Morgnwg'' prior to joining with Rhys Gethin and the ''Grand Armee'' in time for both forces to combine as a 'Byddin Fawr' that would defeat the English in one of the bloodiest battles of the war. A battle so bloody that a red mist of blood hung in the air and the horse fetlocks were covered in blood, so fulfilling one of the events that had taken place at Glyndwr's birth in which has Glyndwr was born the horse in his fathers stables went wild and injured their fetlocks till they bled. I have to do some more work on all this research wise but without doubt Sundays support for a good cause and struggle by SWATT proved more than useful to me otherwise. This is why I appeal to all pobl Glyndwr not only to support our 'Tarian Glyndwr' campaign in defence of our heritage in the landscape but do get out there and see that heritage in the landscape and then our history will truelly reveal itself to you all the more as it did for me atop 'Mynydd y Gaer'. Am now considering a field trip to the ancient fortress of 'Mynydd y Gaer' with of course opportunity for a Pobl Glyndwr picnic some time mid July. all with interest in attending to contact Sian at the Embassy for information in due course.

Pic shows Embassy Glyndwr supporting anti - Hafod rubbish dump protest outside Wrecsam Council Offices. From North to South, East to West 'Tarian Glyndwr'will defend our 'Heritage in the Landscape. Embassy Glyndwr will support the people of Wales in stuggles to defend their communities and environment where and when ever possible, if you require our aid and assistance just give us the 'Galwad Glyndwr'.....''GLYNDWR's CALL''

Do you know of any Heritage in the Landscape that needs 'Tarian Glyndwr', if so let us know.

What'sNext?

When may our Prince Owain Glyndwr call upon you pobl Glyndwr and other patriots to march again, why not on 1 March 2007'Dydd Dewi'.Where to, why from outside Cardiff City Hall would be a good starting point for a march through Caerdydd down through 'Tiger Bay' (What Y Crachach now preferr to call 'Bae Caerdydd') up on to the steps of the ''Sham Senedd'' which of course is nought but the Assembly of Appeasement with English Imperialism and Neo - Colonialism.Why? well to deliver a message that the''Gombeens'' therein may easly understand ''WE WANT INDEPENDANCE AND WE WANT IT NOW OK!So why not march for ''Glyndwr's Dream'' on'Dydd Dewi'or do you have something better to do on that day, like what? See next posting toOWAIN GLYNDWR COMMUNICATES.

Well Sunday's march up atop 'Mynydd y Gaer' was worthwhile and I am sure the above march on the ''Sham Senedd'' would be too but I will leave that to others. One long walk per year for me is enough and after all I have been there and bought the T-Shirt at the ''Sham Senedd''about time some of you did, ''so chew on that'' whilst I get the aforementioned next posting done regards a MARCH FOR WELSH INDEPENDANCE ON 'DYDD DEWI 2007' that would be an historic one to tell the children about? YES! So think about it, get excited and then perhaps enthusiastic to do it!However, marching can be a tiring old business, after the 'Mynydd y Gaer' walk I slumped on a couch and slept from 5:00pm to Midnite and then some more, hopefully done me some good?

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Cleddyf y Genedl - Sword of the Nation.

On 30 Ionawr (2007) the first programme of a series will be broadcast on S4C about the ''Cymric'' Princes of Wales. If you take a look in the Western Mail's magazine/TV supplement for this week (20th January) you will see an article re this series with two photos of 'Cleddyf y Genedl'. Now... read on:

Cleddyf y Genedl - Sword of the Nation.

Symbol of Justice......but, where's the justice in keeping it in the back passage stairwell at MOMA Machynlleth? So much for patriotic pride in Embassy Glyndŵr's attempt to restore the 'Honours of Cymru'. Are you wondering what on earth the ''Honours of the Cymry'' are? Well, essentially, they are the 'National Royal Treasures of Wales' stolen by Edward I at the time of the conquest of Cymru 1282 - 83 - 84. They consisted of the Royal Diadem of the Princes of Gwynedd and other Royal regalia such as a ring and plates etc. Most important amongst these 'National Treasures' was 'Y Croes Naid' and, reputedly, the ''Crown of Arthur'' - although Embassy Glyndŵr is still researching this one and suspects that Edward I May have concocted this story re the crown of Arthur to serve his own 'English Nationalist' dynastic ends. However,there is no doubt of the existance of the other prementioned Royal treasures.

We at Embassy Glyndŵr feel that a nation's national treasure is a potent symbol of that nation's national pride - and when Edward I looted our national treasures as spoils of conquest, he knew exactly the effect that would have on the Cymric psyche; Cymru and our national treasures were now his property - and we were to get used to it!

To commemorate the 600th anniversary of Owain Glyndŵr's coronation on 21 June 1404 at Machynlleth, Embassy Glyndŵr commisioned the sponsorship and making of 'Cleddyf Y Genedl' and thence arranged for it to be presented to the Town council on the understanding that they would protect it and care for it on behalf of the community of Machynlleth.

Thus, following a beautiful ceremony at Capel Pennal, this wonderful sword - the first item of our hoped plan to restore the 'Honours of Cymru' was duly presented by the French Consul to the Mayor of Machynlleth, thus far so good - as you will see from phots below:

The 'Blessing of the Sword' ceremony at Pennal was followed by a spectacular march in Machynlleth prior to the 'Presentation Ceremony' taking place which concluded with two ''Machynleth Maids'' presenting flowers to the French Consul and myself. We were left with the impression that the Council would arrange to place 'Cleddyf y Genedl' on display to the people of Machynlleth, Wales and the World and would be proud of the fact that their town was home to the first of the restored ''National Treasures of the Cymry''. So, where is 'Cleddyf y Genedl'?HHHhhhmmm!!! Indeed. Sadly, the photos below will show you how much pride it would seem Machynlleth has for 'Cleddyf Y Genedl'.

Then, they spoil it all by placing the sword on display in a location that can only essentially spell out ''Out of Sight and Out of Mind''.

Wales, unlike Scotland does not have it's 'Honors'' (Traditional Native Crown Jewels) as already mentioned, ours were stolen by Edward I but, what we do have are the English created ''Honors of Wales''which were presented to ''Carlo''the English Pretender ''Prince of Wales''. These you will see on display in a ''Bomb proof'' display case in the NMW, Caerdydd. My guess is that if these were presented to Machynlleth they would not be placed in a back passage of MOMA as is the case with 'Cleddyf y Genedl'. That unfortunatly is the sad state of so called ''Welsh Patriotism'' totally misplaced. What makes matters even worse is that MOMA cannot be even be bothered to put up signs anywhere as to indicate where 'Cleddyf y Genedl' is displayed so, If you dont already know about 'Cleddyf y Genedl'and that it is on display on the back stairwell of MOMA,you never will if its left to MOMA to draw attention to it.

We would like to suggest that you write to them about this and also suggest that perhaps a better place to put Cleddyf Y Genedl is in the foyer of MOMA where there is plenty of place for 'Cleddyf y Genedl' and thence may be seen when the place is shut. Plus, you may suggest that they could put a big notice in the window stating 'Cleddyf y Genedl' - 'Sword of the Nation' is on display here. After all this should be patriotically percieved as to be the most important item in the keeping of MOMA. this is also a matter for Machynlleth Town Council to be concerned with so perhaps you could write to them as well. Of course if you're ever passing through Machynlleth do go and see the nation's 'Symbol of Justice' which has not itself seen itself given the good justice it truly deserves. Other than this, may we remind you that 21 Mehefin is, since 2004, dedicated as both 'Dydd y Senedd Glyndwr' and 'Dydd Coroni Glyndŵr'and thus we call upon patriots to assemble in Machynlleth on or about that date to commemorate the events in that town which occured on 21 Mehefin 1404.Further details on this will be posted soon.'Juratus Oweyn'

A proposed new Glyndŵr Commemoration: We had hoped to launch this event last year on the 600th anniversary of the death of the great ‘’Flintshire Freedom Fighter’’ Hywel Gwynedd but unfortunately we just could not find the time to complete both our historical and "on the ground" research work. This work is now completed allowing us to turn our attention to other, up to now, neglected issues. Therefore, this posting is intended to serve as a provisional announcement of our proposals for a major annual Glyndŵr commemoration in Flintshire. Here we will provide you with some basic details and photographs which will be followed shortly (in a future posting) by an article on Hywel Gwynedd. Other news is that we are in the process of advancing a new Owain Glyndŵr Memorial Initiative with enthusiastic ‘Pobl Glyndŵr’ in the North East; further details will be made public soon.

Centre of Moel y Gaer, suitable for an annual Patriotic Commemoration and a memorial maybe?

Yes! It was very remiss of Embassy Glyndŵr not to have been more pro - active in organising a 600th anniversary ceremony but we cannot do everything and information had been sent out to Pobl Glyndŵr in the North East in the hope that they would follow the Embassy Glyndwr philosophy that each community should form a strong committee and then use their own initiative to set a commemorative project in motion but, clearly, in this case they did not thus, we will be more pro – active this year in promoting our proposals regards the launching of an annual Hywel Gwynedd ‘Arwyr Glyndŵr’ Commemoration at Moel y Gaer. However, we will be complying with our usual Embassy Glyndŵr policy of leaving local organisation to those Pobl Glyndŵr of the North East who will show an interest and make positive moves forward regards our proposals. After all, how could Flintshire Pobl Glyndŵr forget and ignore such a local hero and great patriot ‘’Freedom Fighter’’ of the War of National Liberation 1400 – 16 – 21? So, what can be done. Well, we have "scouted out" the area and we see that Moel y Gaer is a fantastic site for a Pobl Glyndŵr commemorative gathering and we foresee much that can be done over the years to make of it a really major commemoration but, for this year, at the very least, we hope floral and Ivy tributes will be placed at Moel y Gaer in memory of the patriots who died there on 6 March 1406, remembering also their brave attempts to liberate ‘’English Occupied Flintshire’’. We, of course, hope to see as many ‘Baneri Glyndŵr’ as possible being raised up on Moel y Gaer on the suggested Commemoration Day of 10 March 2007, this Saturday follows 6 March, the actual date upon which Hywel Gwynedd and his fellow Patriotic partisans were killed. This event will mark a tragic event in ‘Hanes Glyndŵr’ but the fact that we are ''Yma o Hyd'' six centuries later declares that this commemoration is one of continued Cymric Patriotic Defiance to show that the struggle for Cymru continues in Flintshire. Further, regards the above, we are calling upon Patriots who are attending the Mold Eisteddfod this year and whom cannot make the commemoration in March, to visit Moel y Gaer and have yourself a ‘Pobl Glyndŵr Picnic’ at site of this ancient fortress which has splendid all around views of our homeland as well as across the estuary views towards England.

Baner Glyndŵr at Moel y Gaer.

Further information from Embassy Glyndŵr, if wishing to be involved in future commemoration and memorial work do please let us know and we will get back in touch.

Other important dates in Welsh History:18 Ionawr 1316, Llywelyn Bren begins the last Welsh Rebellion prior to the Owain Glyndŵr War if Independence. Although, let us not forget the ‘’Welsh Troubles’’ in Northern Wales in 1345. Our next Embassy Glyndŵr posting will, in fact, be about these "Welsh Troubles" and the St Valentines Day Massacre 14 Chwefror 1345.

Keep in mind that Owain Glyndŵr was born in 1354 just nine years after the "Welsh Troubles" of 1345 and it was the continuing discontent in Y Perfeddwlad which was to produce the conditions that made the Owain Glyndŵr led war of National Liberation possible. So look forward to another great read in this OWAIN GLYNDŴR COMMUNICATES Blog, please tell other patriots about our blog and we remind one and all that you do not have to wait until St David’s Day to start your patriotic gatherings or patriotic rallies, marching with our Cymric banners held high may start on the dates mentioned above in commemoration of great events in our history.

Other Business:This year marks the 725th anniversary of the war of 1282 and of course the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, we have suggested that commemoration of this most historic event begins at Castell Caergwrle on the 725th anniversary of Dafydd ap Gruffydd mobilising for an attack on the Castle of Penarlag. This event took place on the 21 Mawrth 1282(this year a Wednesday) which in that year was the eve of Palm Sunday. So, when to commemorate as this year Palm Sunday falls on the 1st April 2006 which is a Sunday. Our suggestion is that patriots hold a commemoration gathering (Rally) at Castell Caergwrle onSaturday 31 March 2006 and another at Penarlag onPalm Sunday 1st April 2006. Further information will, in time, be found on the Cofiwn Archive Blog, just search google for COFIWN.Best wishes for the new year and the Celtic Festival of Imbolc 1 Chwefror and ‘Dydd Brigad’ 2 Chwefror.

Warning:Again unknown sources are requesting money for Glyndŵr events and, more worrying, are in the process of collecting names! Be careful, there is too much name collecting going on by various means of web petitions and forums etc. Certainly do not donate money unless you have thouroughly checked out who is collecting and for what reason. Local events should be able to collect money locally and have no need to issue national appeals unless it is for a major project such as a memorial.